The MC has been stuffing up the big man selections for most of the year.

Carlos in the ruck against Richmond when Jacobs was available meant Carlos was not free to switch onto Richo when he was manhandling Jamo.

Left out Carlos against Essendon* which meant we had no defenders big enough to play on Hill when he went forward and towered over Thornton.

Those decisions could have made the difference between winning and losing those games.

Played Hampson, Kreuzer and Cloke all together (might have been the same game) with Hampson only getting about 35% ground time.

Ackland selected ahead of Hamspon despite Hampson's better form.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

Ratts, like our young players is allowed to make tactical mistakes.

his idea about going in with an experience body, wasnt a horrible suggestion.

but at the end of the day, what Ackland brought to the side, was less than what Hampson had to gain from playing the game, so it was an error.

but that is also the issue we face, im almost keen for ackland to play again next week, bring in Hampson and give Kreuzer a rest.

Our ruckstocks are a work in progress and we have to be careful not to run them into the ground and turn in a potential star into an above average player a.k.a. Josh Fraser, who was poorly managed IMO when first starting his career.

this and next year, is very much about developing the young talent.

if it means, that occasionaly we have to play experienced bodies, and have isntances like Ackland yesterday, then these are things that need to happen frm time to time.

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Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

During the game, I found myself thinking what it would mean for us to trade the son of Vin - he is in danger of making it happen one of these days, but I think our match committee would make a bold enough move like that. He started slow this year, peaked in round 4, then started declining. He only managed to get some possessions last night after being relieved of his post on brown and being played as a loose man.

I dred his kicking out of defense, but then again except for one game against the hawks a couple years back, I also dred him kicking for goal. This week I even saw him in the middle for a little bit, but that was no good either. Perhaps his best position is left right out.

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I will miss you Kouta - thanks for the memories. ps. Kouta > * for ∞

I believe Bentick's role in the side is as the rotating in and under feeding the ball out to the other midfielders and taking some of the pressure off Murphy Judd Stevens and Gibbs. He is at the bottom of most packs and doesn't let the opposition get the ball away easily. Given his form over the last couple of weeks I don't think he could be dropped so when Hadley was available it was Ellard out and Hadley in.

My understanding was that Jacobs and Hampson were both coming back from injury and Jacobs can't play until e get another LTI. I though that neither Hampson nor Aisake played that well in the last Bullants game against Casey. With Cloke injured and the other two under injury or poor form clouds and no other LTI I don't think the MC had much choice other than Ackland. If I had the choice I would elevate Jacobs and play him for the rest of the season as I think he's the best tap ruckman we have.

The coach advised that he was going to try and settle the back six this year with Waite at CHB. At the start of the season Waite Jamison Thornton Walker Bower and Bannister were our back six. As a unit we seemed to have height flexibility and run out of defence but lacked experience. Since the start of the season we have lost Thornton Bannister and Walker to injury and not had a settled backline. Bower has therefore had to take on a bigger role and we have tried to pinch hit with Carlos Carrazzo Grigg Simpson Scotland Russell Pfeiffer Jackson and Browne down back.

We do lack depth whether it be defence or attack and that must frustrate the MC and make it hard at the selection table. We do have a good and developing band of midfielders We can pinch hit in the back pocket and rotate players through the flanks but I believe we desperately need a CHF and a CHB.

We had a potential CHF in Kennedy but we needed to give him up to get Judd. Hartlett has shown a bit but is injury prone and his body may simply not be up to AFL football. Austin is very young and is coming along slowly. He showed a little bit in his last game for the Bullants and some more this week as a key defender. Although he was recruited as a defender he has played both forward and back in his junior football. Saddington has been injured and I don't believe we have any other options on the list for CHF and CHB.

Of the other players we have not tried Anderson seems to me to be a bit fragile and like Hartlett may not have the body for AFL. Benjamin has height and speed but IMO is inconsistent with his skills.

Good one Amazonstud. I can't see anything in your statement to disagree with.

Agree.

I refused to watch/go to the match once I knew Ackland was in the team.

If they pick proper players (ones that are the future) I will continue to go to/watch matches - but picking Ackland is indefensible. I guess everyone makes mistakes - please don't make that one again.

Armfield in would be good.

He has a bit of zip.

Hampson in too.

Agree. Good post.

As bad as he was on Saturday I think that Ackland should get another game this week. (*ducks to avoid rotten fruit)
It was his 1st senior game for the year, he clearly needs to adjust to the tempo, and i am sure that he is aware that he put in a shocker and if he has an ounce of pride will go about it a bit differently this week.. Hampson is 2 years away from being No1 Ruck and unfortunately Ackland is all we have.
The smart thing for the MC to do is tell him that he has x weeks in the 1sts and then they will reasses the situation.

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

There is a bigger picture here for me, not just our current selections but what we will do with them come years end.

Next year with the GC entering the draft we will not have the same opportunities.

Ratten has done a great job so far and I think he will prove to be a topline coach. The only thing that worries me about him at the moment he seems more concerned about being everybody's mate rather than pulling some into line.

However, the big test will be how do they rate our list and what do we need to do to get back to the top. At the moment we are clearly not atop 8 side and decisions need to be made. We need a key back, some key forwards, a big mature ruckman, and some more onballers with good football skills and brains (not development players!)

Players on the list with question marks are:

Ackland
Benjamin
Bentick
Blackwell
Edwards
Fevola
Fisher
Hartlett
Houlihan
Jackson
Aisake
Setanta
Pfeiffer
Russell
Saddington
Stevens
Wiggins

At least 8-10 of these need to be moved on. Some replaced with mature recruits that will enhance and help develop our side and the others with kids.

Is our MC and Football Dept able to do it?

Alot of reasonable stuff in the post. I'd send Waite forward now to join Fisher and Fev not replace Fisher. Fisher would feel so much more comfortable a as 3rd tall with the guns focussed on Fev and Waite. If we keep him as 2nd tall up forward we'll" kill' him.

One week good enough to make the State team next week not good enough to play for Carlton. You kidding me?

I think the MC made the right call for Saturday night. Ackland is playing for his future and needed to be given a chance to show if he is to be part of the future. Obviously, I don't think he will be with us next year. I believe Jacobs will replace Ackland on the list.

Our backline is decimated by injuries. We have lost Bannister, Thornton and now Jamison. I believe our back 6, when fit and available should be Carlos, Thornton, Jamison, Bower, Walker / Browne / Scotland / Anderson / Gibbs /Pfiffer / Armfield.

I also think Waite is best on the wing, using his run and leap helping out the defense and also helping out forward. I think our forward line should be Fev, Fisher, Betts, Houlihan, Gibbs & a resting ruckman (Hammer/Krooz). I think Houlihan would be dangerous on the HFF as would Gibbs. Rotating a resting midfielder such as Judd/Murphy/Stevens would make the forward line even more potent.

There is also the option of playing the likes of Browne / Armfield / Anderson as a defensive forward against players such as Heath Shaw who sets up the play going forward from defense.

Anyway, that's just my two bob.

We also have the option of Austin coming in after he's completed his apprenticeship, playing either forward or back. He can play in either area.

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Leaders do not care what other people say about them. When people start talking crap about you, thats when you know you've made it

Ratten is everyones mate?
I remember him making the tough decision to delist his ex team mate Whitnall.......

On the Ackland issue, i stick to my statement. The chances of us playing finals this year are very slim. Therefore logically we can conclude we are playing and planning for the future.
Kruez didn't get injured luckily. But the risks involved with the possibility of Kruez/Hammer getting beaten up by Charman far outweigh the benefits of playing both of them and saying 'theyre better for the run' 'play the future'. Hammer from all reports had a great game in the 2's. Kruez came through injury free.
The time will come when we can play Hammer and Kruez and watch them manhandle their opponents and jump all over them.
(For the record, I think Ackland is a disgrace and played one of the most pathetic games of football i've ever seen. But i prefer him throwing his body into Charman than Hammer!)

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Loooook OUT!

Unfortunately I have to agree with darknavy.

We just cant afford to have Kreuzer and Hampson battered in their first few seasons - if either of Cloke or Ackland are available this season and possibly even next season (shudders moreso about Ackland than Cloke) then one or the other but not both should be selected.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Did Ackland throw his body into Charman? I must've missed it.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

When I mean unfortunately I have to agree with darknavy - I mean I have to agree with his opinion which is correct. It is not unfortunately because I dont like darknavy (because I have no animosity to darknavy whatsoever) its only unfortunately because it means we have to keep Ackland for another year.

Does anyone see what I am trying to do here ..................


Then someone try explaining it to me because I am really confused.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

No. Because he's a squib! But he's a squib that i'm willing to throw to the wolves, while we develop our next generation ruckman!

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Loooook OUT!

But once you have one "squib" in the team it destroys the morale of the rest of the team. We have seen this in years past with certain players.

Select a team that plays as a team and if Kreuzer can't take ruck share, then get a third bloke in to support him at ruck throw ins.

Ackland was a poor selection and the pitiful excuse he was there to protect our baby ruckman is just that ...pitiful.
He did his usual mistime the leap so he didnt have to make contact with the opposing ruckman on a regular basis....Hampson should have played.
The MC got it wrong....

Didnt effect the overall result though as the better Brisbane players played well ie Black, Power, Brown etc and if that happened we all knew we were not going to win.
The Lions are not a bad team and I wouldnt be getting too depressed over the result ...some of kids played well and got some good education.
Setanta did well on Brown IMO and I liked his physical approach......

Bentick did a good job but its not his role to supply the class to match Power, Black etc......

Pace is a problem and the addition of Armfield, Benjamin and Joseph if and when he is promoted is needed..

If Ackland plays this week Freo will spank us......

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Swann and Icke sacked Lance for being useless....

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